Elsa Heporauta Trail – All-day Hiking route in Puumala
If you are looking for a longer day of hiking, the Elsa Heporauta Trail runs for 22 to 24 km depending on where you begin. You can access the trail at Sahanlahti Resort (Lietvedentie 830) or at Hylkeenlahti parking area (Lietvedentie 770).
The route follows mainly gravel roads, with some sections on forest paths.
Most of the route is suitable for wide-tire mountain bikes or fatbikes, though you should be prepared to walk your bike in some places. You can rent bikes from Saimaa Bikes or Sahanlahti Resort, and also enjoy local food and a sauna session after your day of hiking or cycling.
The scenery is predominantly forested, but along the way, you will also see the village landscape of Pirttimäki, the shores of Lake Torikko, the Salakkasalmi lean-to shelter (with firewood), the Hylkeenlahti gulf & parking area, and the boulder terrain of Sahanlahti. The Tupavuori Cave (a Saimaa Geopark site) is also nearby.
Please note that there are no services along the route, so you should bring your own snacks. There is an outhouse at the Salakkasalmi lean-to shelter. The nearest services are available at the starting point, Sahanlahti Resort.
Who was Elsa Heporauta? The author Elsa Heporauta (née Koponen, 1883–1960) was born in Sahanlahti, Puumala. A multifaceted cultural figure, she is best known today as the founder of Kalevala Koru Jewelry. Heporauta was also a prolific writer, an educator, and an activist in the women's rights movement.
For a route description and map, see the links below.
Elsa Heporaudan-polku kartta (map)